Face Elasticity: A Science Backed Approach

The elasticity of your skin is an indicator of its youthfulness, health, and resiliency. Quite simply, it refers to how well the skin returns to its original position after it's been stretched or tugged. When the skin is highly elastic, it will appear tight and firm. As we age, it begins to lose its elasticity, and wrinkles start to develop.

Want to learn how to improve skin elasticity? We dive into skin health, skin care products, the causes of premature skin aging, so you can keep your skin looking supple and youthful-looking.

Many people first start to notice the loss of skin elasticity when cleansing away makeup or applying moisturizer. Since these activities require some rubbing, the skin cells becomes slightly displaced. As it loses elasticity, it won't bounce back as quickly as it used to. This is known as elastosis. The most significant cause is the natural skin aging process-- skin naturally begins to lose collagen and elastin fibers. These are two proteins that are essential for providing the supporting structure of the skin. The result is a loss in skin firmness, sagging skin, wrinkles, and fine lines.

Although aging is the primary cause of elastosis, other contributing factors can cause a loss of skin elasticity at an even earlier age. One of these is exposure to air pollution. This is why people in urban, heavily polluted areas may be more likely to notice premature signs of aging. Further, unprotected sun exposure and sun damage, poor nutrition, and smoking are other causes. And while weight loss is often healthy, particularly rapid or significant weight loss can contribute to loose skin.

If you're concerned about the elasticity of the skin cells on your face, there are a few simple tests you can use to evaluate it. Stand in front of a mirror. Very gently pinch the delicate skin under your eye, and then observe how well the skin bounces back. Skin that doesn't bounce back right away has poor elasticity. Next, pinch the "apples" of your cheeks. Take a close look at the pinched-together skin. Do you see fine lines? If so, you either have poor elasticity, or you're dehydrated. Drink an electrolyte- rich beverage and then try again to see if the fine lines persist. Lastly, you can do the pout test. Pout until you see lines appear around your mouth. Relax the area and watch to see if the lines disappear right away or linger.

To improve skin elasticity, it's helpful to use skincare ingredients that support collagen production. Retinoids, for example, can help by triggering collagen production. This ingredient can be particularly effective when it's combined with vitamin C.

Another effective ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which naturally occurs. However, like collagen and elastin fibers, this substance is depleted by the skin aging process. It's also negatively affected by unprotected sunlight exposure. Applying a serum or moisturizer with hyaluronic acid can improve the resiliency of the skin's connective tissue.

Other ingredients that can improve the elasticity of the skin include the following:

• Genistein isoflavones (taken orally and applied topically)
• Witch hazel extract
• Collagen (taken orally and applied topically)
• Alpha hydroxy acids
• Polyglutamic acid (PGA)

Although thoughtfully formulated skincare products can help you enhance and preserve yourskin's collagen and elasticity, you might consider making certain lifestyle changes as well.

Quitting smoking

Since skin elasticity is adversely affected by smoking, kicking the habit should be a top priority.Smoking attacks the skin at the molecular level, damaging the structure that gives skin itsfirmness and tightness.

Prioritizing sleep

Sleep is essential because it allows the body to repairitself—including the skin. A sufficient quantity and quality of sleep may support collagenproduction.

Sun protection

Ultraviolet rays damage your skin, negatively affecting the elasticity. Always apply sunscreen or a daily moisturizer with SPF before stepping outside. Remember that the UV rays can harm your skin no matter what time of year it is or whether it's cloudy.

Hydration

Drinking enough water will help prevent the skin from drying out andsagging. Limit or avoid alcohol, which has a dehydrating effect.

Eating a balanced diet

Your nutrition is essential for the health of your skin. Eat foods thatare high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

Aesthetic treatment

In addition to these lifestyle changes, you might consider professional aesthetic treatments to help turn back the clock. Facial peels, chemical peels, laser treatments, microdermabrasion, and microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections can all boost elasticity.

Skincare Products

A proper skincare routine can restore skin hydration and skin firmness. Products like a Vitamin C eye cream can have brightening and firming effects on the delicate skin under the eyes. A gentle facial cleanser removes dirt and makeup without harsh ingredients. And products with Vitamin E can help reduce UVB-induced skin damage and improve facial skin texture.

At PROVEN, we believe every person's skincare routine should be personalized to meet their unique lifestyle, environment, beauty goals, and skin concerns. That's why our Stanford-trained scientists have developed a powerful AI algorithm-- designed to calculate your unique formulation based on your answers to our skincare quiz. Take it today to discover your multifunctional products created especially for your skin. All PROVEN products use only clinically tested ingredients and are cruelty-free, non-toxic, and clean.